Rankings Update: Shortstop
Sitting here on the empty floor of my new home in California, my future is cloudy. It seems like it’s time to make a run and living, and writing, in the best state in the union (apologies New York, but take away one city and you fall behind a bit). Why live if not while doing the thing you love in your favorite place? Oh, and it’s time to update the shortstop rankings since it’s been a while since we last visited that part of the diamond. That much I do know.
The Big Three:
1. Hanley Ramirez, Florida (.383 wOBA, .404 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
2. Jose Reyes, New York NL (.334 wOBA, .360 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
3. Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia (.378 wOBA, .352 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
It really looks like it’s time to do this. Derek Jeter is on pace to break his own personal record in ground balls, isn’t stealing bases at the clip that he manages in his good years, and isn’t putting up the other-worldly BABIPs of recent years. At his age, he’s always a candidate to slow down, and suddenly it seems like this is the year. If he isn’t going to have the plus batting average, his poor home run and stolen base totals look a lot less exciting.
As wrong as we might have been for pushing Jeter into the top tier for his excellent start, we were as right about keeping Jose Reyes near the top despite his poor first month. After an excellent June, Reyes looks like the man he used to be, and when he bags an extra 25 steals or so over Jeter, he’ll overcome any other advantages the elder New York shortstop has on him.
Another move at the top brings a healthy Rollins into the fold. He’s been a top-3 guy for some time, but his main fault is always there: he’s a bit of a batting average risk year-in and year-out. If the legs are iffy this year, he’s a risk to drop still.
The Next Best Thing:
4. Derek Jeter, New York AL (.338 wOBA, .353 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
5. Elvis Andrus, Texas (.333 wOBA, .331 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
6. Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay (.359 wOBA, .360 ZiPs RoS wOBA)
7. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado (.386 wOBA, .368 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
8. Stephen Drew, Arizona (.334 wOBA, .338 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
Other than Jeter moving down, this tier is fairly uneventful. Andrus looks good, and with his speed might be able to maintain some of his strong BABIP, but he has almost negative power. All those grass guzzlers won’t turn into home runs any time soon, no matter how fast he is. Zobrist is looking like a Jeter-lite, or maybe a young Jeter, but the runs totals aren’t quite there yet. Drew is having a tough year, beset with injuries and some struggles against lefties. Not quite the peak year breakout that seemed like it could be on the way. We’ll keep him around for his upside a little longer, but not a whole lot longer.
The Leftovers:
9. Rafael Furcal, Los Angeles NL (.384 wOBA, .344 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
10. Alexei Ramirez, Chicago AL (.294 wOBA, .328 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
11. Erick Aybar, Los Angeles (.315 wOBA, .322 ZiPs RoS wOBA)
12. Yunel Escobar, Atlanta (.301 wOBA, .336 ZiPS wOBA)
13. Marco Scutaro, Boston (.328 wOBA, .348 ZiPS RoS wOBA)
14. Miguel Tejada, Baltimore (.307 wOBA, .332 ZiPS wOBA)
15. Ian Desmond, Washington (.291 wOBA, .319 ZiPs RoS wOBA)
16. Alex Gonzalez, Toronto (.344 wOBA, .302 ZiPs RoS wOBA)
It’s time to drop Jason Bartlett from the list. He’s losing time to Reid Brignac versus righties, and even if his BABIP regresses and gets his batting average up closer to .280, he’s just not showing any power and has three stolen bases on the year. Not much to like there.
We keep looking for a reason to move Alcides Escobar back onto the list, but at least Ian Desmond is playing every day and providing a tiny bit of power and speed for his owners. Miguel Tejada, on the other hand, might be seeing his long run of consecutive starts come to an end if upstart prospect Josh Bell can show his stuff at the major league level. Baltimore is, of course, looking to the future, and Tejada won’t be a part of that future.
6
Furcal has been looking really good lately
So Furcal has the second highest wOBA and is in the third tier?
Cool story bro.
Last time I put him in the second tier where his production belongs, he promptly revisited the DL. He’s got a bad back, put up 140 ABs two years ago, and a .270 batting average with 12 steals last year. Just like Reyes didn’t deserve to move down further because of his poor start, we can’t just zoom Furcal up to the top because he’s got a nice wOBA.
Good point. He wouldn’t be worth much on the DL.
If you’re calling Furcal an injury risk, then you have to consider Rollins and injury risk also. I don’t know how he can be in the same tier as Hanley…
I’m not quite sure that Rollins is the same injury risk as Furcal, but you are correct that he does represent some risk. He’s a tough one for me, but if he’s up to his 25+/25+ type ways again, even with a worse batting average that works for me in the same tier as Hanley. We’ll see if he hangs around.
A link to the previous list at the end/beginning would be great, just to see the changes
That’s an excellent idea.
Sorry nothing to do with this article, but I’ve got a question about Chase Utley.. In a H2H league where you know you’ll make the playoffs (which are the last 3 weeks of the season), is Utley worth trading for? Not talking about giving up anything great of course, but as an example the guy w/ Utley in my league needs saves and I’ve got plenty of closers. I’m thinking of offering Kevin Gregg for him – WORTH IT???
If you’ve got DL slots, fire in the hole.
agreed.
Tulo has the highest wOBA and he is 7th? Is this because he is injured?
Yes.
Seems like a down year for Sal Shortstop. ‘Specially with Tulo and Rollins missing time. I consider myself lucky to have Drew and Aviles in my 20 teamer.
I know he hasn’actually played any shortstop this year, but whereabouts would you put Jhonny Peralta because I would definitely take him over a few of the third tier guys.
why the heck does Stephen Drew keep making the second tier? he’s had exactly one “good” year (2008) and doesn’t steal enough bases or hit enough HR’s to be considered a top tier fantasy option… and it’s not like his counting stats and AVG make up for it.
He’s got 4 HR and 5 SB this year and (R)ZIPS projects him to finish with 11 and 8 with a .268 AVG and .756 OPS…. after putting up 12 and 5 last year with a .261 AVG and .748 OPS. What’s the deal here? how is he any different than any of the other “leftovers”? How can you justify listing him as a second-tier option?
You may be correct. 2008 is a nice definition of his upside, however. If he doesn’t start it up soon, and Furcal stays healthy for a lil bit, they’ll flip.
How does Zobrist qualify as a SS? In my ESPN league, he’s 2B and OF only. I’d LOVE to use him as a SS.
zobrist is 2B,SS,OF in yahoo.. i have him and hanley :)
Even though Rollins and Reyes have been very good, I’d still say Hanley is on a tier of his own.
Month in Month out, Hanley will be better, and no matter your league type or if you play 5×5 or more of with categories no one else uses, Hanley is heads above them both.
For that I believe Hanley deserves his pedestal.
2001 games
97 games at 3rd base position and 10-12 DH games before going to SDP
Glad hes back with a first place team since days of Oakland Athletics
287 is 3rd most Hrs by a shortstop by passing Mr Cub E.Banks
1 of 3 s.s to ever have 5 seasons in a row 100+RBIs
1 time only has he had 100 strikeouts
AL MVP 02 with Athletics
RBI TITLE lead MLB with 150 with Baltimore
2 DOUBLES TITLE, NL & MLB with bailtmore
6x AS
AS MVP
AS Derby hr winner
10x 30+Double hi 40-42-46-50
6×100 total 100RBIs
8×20+hrs hi 4×30+
7×177+hits(177-179-199-199-203-204-214
5×300+avg
1/3 of all his his are for extra base hits